Rick Williams
Encyclopedia
Richard C. "Rick" Williams (October 16, 1965 – February 23, 1999) was an American
professional wrestler
. He was best known for his tenure in World Championship Wrestling
under the ring name
(The) Renegade, where he was a one time World Television Champion
.
, Williams began training under Killer Kowalski
in order to become a professional wrestler. After making his debut in 1992, he began performing on the independent circuit
under the ring name Rio, Lord of the Jungle. He would also tour Japan for WAR.
. Hulk Hogan
and Randy Savage
were involved in the main event feud with the Dungeon of Doom
stable. Leading up to Uncensored, in which Hogan was scheduled to face Vader in a strap match in the main event, Hogan began hyping an "Ultimate Surprise" and showed a silhouette of a man with long hair and tassels tied to his arms, implying that the Ultimate Warrior
was the man in question. On March 19 at Uncensored, Williams, under the ring name The Renegade, was billed by Hogan as "the man that's gonna bring Hulkamania into the 21st Century".
as his manager
and soon overran many villains
while utilizing mannerisms, moves and entrance music
very similar to the Ultimate Warrior's. On June 18, 1995, Renegade defeated Arn Anderson
for the World Television Championship
at The Great American Bash, his first and only championship
. The following month at Bash at the Beach, Renegade defeated "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff
to retain his title for the first time. Under a month later on Clash of the Champions XXI, Renegade again retained his title in a rematch with Orndorff. However, a few months later, the real Ultimate Warrior had appeared in several wrestling magazines and dispelled the belief that Williams was the Ultimate Warrior. As a result, Renegade's momentum
was virtually halted before he subsequently lost the World Television Title to Diamond Dallas Page
on September 17 at Fall Brawl. He then went on to lose to Orndorff on Main Event
preceding Halloween Havoc the next month in less than two minutes. On the November 6 edition of Monday Nitro
, after losing to Kevin Sullivan
, Jimmy Hart turned on Renegade before ultimately burying him by "re-possessing" the gimmick before saying "You're not a Renegade! You're just plain Rick!" (this was probably due to a cease and desist order by the WWF, due to Renegade's similarity to The Ultimate Warrior). Williams would then not be seen on WCW television for nearly half a year.
and The Rock 'n' Roll Express in a losing effort to The Four Horsemen. Williams then only appeared sporadically on WCW programming, with appearances including a loss to Arn Anderson on the October 7 edition of Nitro, and then to compete in the World War 3 battle royal, which was won by The Giant
. Following this, The Renegade formed a short-lived tag team
with Joe Gomez that spanned from late 1996 to early 1997, though the team was not successful as they lost every match they were placed in
. Renegade was then relegated to being an undercard talent on the WCW "B-shows" Thunder
and Saturday Night
before he was later put into a minor feud with former tag team partner and enhancement talent
Joe Gomez. Following this, he again disappeared from television and only competed in two pay-per-view matches between 1997 and 1998, both of which were the World War 3 battle royals of both years. When the Ultimate Warrior
arrived in WCW in 1998, Williams used as his stunt double until the Warrior departed from the promotion soon after his debut. In late 1998, Williams was released from his contract and he retired soon after.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
. He was best known for his tenure in World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
under the ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
(The) Renegade, where he was a one time World Television Champion
WCW World Television Championship
The World Championship Wrestling World Television Championship was a professional wrestling championship in World Championship Wrestling....
.
Professional wrestling career
After a stint as a male stripperStriptease
A striptease is an erotic or exotic dance in which the performer gradually undresses, either partly or completely, in a seductive and sexually suggestive manner...
, Williams began training under Killer Kowalski
Killer Kowalski
Władek "Killer" Kowalski was a Canadian professional wrestler. Kowalski wrestled for numerous promotions during his career, including the NWA and WWF, and was a known heel wrestler...
in order to become a professional wrestler. After making his debut in 1992, he began performing on the independent circuit
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
under the ring name Rio, Lord of the Jungle. He would also tour Japan for WAR.
Debut
In 1995, Williams's career peaked when he was hired by World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
. Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan
Terrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
and Randy Savage
Randy Savage
Randall Mario Poffo , better known by his ring name "Macho Man" Randy Savage, was an American professional wrestler, best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling .Savage held twenty championships during his professional wrestling career and was a...
were involved in the main event feud with the Dungeon of Doom
Dungeon of Doom
The Dungeon of Doom was the name of a professional wrestling stable in World Championship Wrestling that existed from 1995 to 1997.-Origin:...
stable. Leading up to Uncensored, in which Hogan was scheduled to face Vader in a strap match in the main event, Hogan began hyping an "Ultimate Surprise" and showed a silhouette of a man with long hair and tassels tied to his arms, implying that the Ultimate Warrior
Warrior (wrestler)
Also see Warrior .Warrior is an American retired professional wrestler who notably performed under the ring names The Ultimate Warrior and Warrior...
was the man in question. On March 19 at Uncensored, Williams, under the ring name The Renegade, was billed by Hogan as "the man that's gonna bring Hulkamania into the 21st Century".
World Television Champion and debut of the Ultimate Warrior
Soon after his debut, The Renegade acquired Jimmy HartJimmy Hart
James "Jimmy" Ray Hart is a professional wrestling manager, executive, composer, and musician currently signed with WWE. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling under his nickname "The Mouth of the South." He has managed many professional...
as his manager
Manager (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
and soon overran many villains
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
while utilizing mannerisms, moves and entrance music
Music in professional wrestling
Music in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
very similar to the Ultimate Warrior's. On June 18, 1995, Renegade defeated Arn Anderson
Arn Anderson
Martin Anthony Lunde better known by his ring name Arn Anderson, is a former American professional wrestler and author. His career has been highlighted by his alliances with Ric Flair and various members of the wrestling stable, The Four Horsemen, in the NWA/WCW...
for the World Television Championship
WCW World Television Championship
The World Championship Wrestling World Television Championship was a professional wrestling championship in World Championship Wrestling....
at The Great American Bash, his first and only championship
Championship (professional wrestling)
A Championship or "title" in professional wrestling is a recognition promoted by professional wrestling organizations.Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries...
. The following month at Bash at the Beach, Renegade defeated "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff
Paul Orndorff
Paul Parlette Orndorff, Jr. is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling as "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff...
to retain his title for the first time. Under a month later on Clash of the Champions XXI, Renegade again retained his title in a rematch with Orndorff. However, a few months later, the real Ultimate Warrior had appeared in several wrestling magazines and dispelled the belief that Williams was the Ultimate Warrior. As a result, Renegade's momentum
Push (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a push is an attempt by the booker to make the wrestler win more matches and become more popular or more reviled with the fans depending on whether they are a heel or a face...
was virtually halted before he subsequently lost the World Television Title to Diamond Dallas Page
Diamond Dallas Page
Dallas Page , better known by his ring name "Diamond" Dallas Page , is an American retired professional wrestler, fitness instructor and actor...
on September 17 at Fall Brawl. He then went on to lose to Orndorff on Main Event
WCW Main Event
WCW Main Event is a televised wrestling program of World Championship Wrestling that aired from 1988 to 1998. For most of its run, it was the promotion's secondary show and aired on Sunday evenings on TBS. The show originally aired in 1988 as NWA Main Event...
preceding Halloween Havoc the next month in less than two minutes. On the November 6 edition of Monday Nitro
WCW Monday Nitro
WCW Monday Nitro was a weekly professional wrestling telecast produced by World Championship Wrestling, created by Ted Turner and Eric Bischoff. The show aired Monday nights on TNT, going head-to-head with the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Raw from September 4, 1995 to March 26, 2001...
, after losing to Kevin Sullivan
Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)
Kevin Francis Sullivan is an American professional wrestler and booker, perhaps best known for his role in WCW as "The Taskmaster" and his leading of the "Dungeon of Doom".-Early career:...
, Jimmy Hart turned on Renegade before ultimately burying him by "re-possessing" the gimmick before saying "You're not a Renegade! You're just plain Rick!" (this was probably due to a cease and desist order by the WWF, due to Renegade's similarity to The Ultimate Warrior). Williams would then not be seen on WCW television for nearly half a year.
Decline and departure
On the July 1, 1996 edition of Nitro, Williams returned to television under his Renegade ring name but without the character's signature facepaint and singlet attire, instead sporting short trunks with tribal armbands, as he teamed up with Joe GomezJoe Gomez
Joe Gomez is an American professional wrestler who competes in Southeastern independent promotions including Florida Championship Wrestling, Maximum Pro Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance....
and The Rock 'n' Roll Express in a losing effort to The Four Horsemen. Williams then only appeared sporadically on WCW programming, with appearances including a loss to Arn Anderson on the October 7 edition of Nitro, and then to compete in the World War 3 battle royal, which was won by The Giant
Paul Wight
Paul Donald Wight, Jr. , better known by his ring name, Big Show, is an American professional wrestler and actor, currently signed to WWE on its Raw brand....
. Following this, The Renegade formed a short-lived tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
with Joe Gomez that spanned from late 1996 to early 1997, though the team was not successful as they lost every match they were placed in
Job (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling slang, the term job describes a losing performance in a wrestling match. It is derived from the euphemism "doing one's job", which was employed to protect kayfabe. As professional wrestling is scripted, inevitably a wrestler will be required to lose to an opponent.The term...
. Renegade was then relegated to being an undercard talent on the WCW "B-shows" Thunder
WCW Thunder
WCW Thunder was a professional wrestling show produced by World Championship Wrestling which aired on TBS from January 8, 1998 to March 21, 2001...
and Saturday Night
WCW Saturday Night
WCW Saturday Night was a weekly Saturday night TV show on TBS produced by World Championship Wrestling. The program existed through various incarnations under different names before becoming WCW Saturday Night in 1992...
before he was later put into a minor feud with former tag team partner and enhancement talent
Job (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling slang, the term job describes a losing performance in a wrestling match. It is derived from the euphemism "doing one's job", which was employed to protect kayfabe. As professional wrestling is scripted, inevitably a wrestler will be required to lose to an opponent.The term...
Joe Gomez. Following this, he again disappeared from television and only competed in two pay-per-view matches between 1997 and 1998, both of which were the World War 3 battle royals of both years. When the Ultimate Warrior
Warrior (wrestler)
Also see Warrior .Warrior is an American retired professional wrestler who notably performed under the ring names The Ultimate Warrior and Warrior...
arrived in WCW in 1998, Williams used as his stunt double until the Warrior departed from the promotion soon after his debut. In late 1998, Williams was released from his contract and he retired soon after.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Backbreaker – 1997, 1998
- Renegade Splash (Running splash)
- Signature moves
- Belly to belly suplex
- CartwheelCartwheel (gymnastics)In gymnastics, a cartwheel is a sideways rotary movement performed by bringing the hands to the ground while the body inverts and the legs travel over the body, coming down to a standing position.-Terminology:...
hip attack - Clothesline
- Diving crossbody
- Diving double axe handle
- Dragon suplex
- Front powerslam
- HandspringHandspring (gymnastics)A handspring is an acrobatic move in which a person executes a complete revolution of the body by lunging headfirst from an upright position into a handstand and then pushing off from the floor with the hands so as to leap back to an upright position. Handsprings are performed in various physical...
back elbow - Hangman
- Headlock
- Pumphandle backbreaker submission
- Schoolboy
- Scoop powerslam
- Slingshot crossbody
- ManagerManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
s- Jimmy HartJimmy HartJames "Jimmy" Ray Hart is a professional wrestling manager, executive, composer, and musician currently signed with WWE. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling under his nickname "The Mouth of the South." He has managed many professional...
- Jimmy Hart
Championships and accomplishments
- World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
- WCW World Television ChampionshipWCW World Television ChampionshipThe World Championship Wrestling World Television Championship was a professional wrestling championship in World Championship Wrestling....
(1 time)
- WCW World Television Championship
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Worst Wrestler (1995)